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Canadians travel to the united kingdom will now have to apply and pay for a travel permit – not a visa – before you enter the country.
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which rolled out on Wednesday, is mandatory for short-term visits of up to six months for all foreign travelers who do not need a visa to enter the country.
The ETA will be an email confirmation unlike a visa, which is usually stamped or glued into a passport.
The ETA costs around $18 and allows travelers to stay in the UK for up to six months at a time.
It can be obtained online and allows multiple visits over a two-year period.
“ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system,” the UK government states on its website.
The pre-authorization “is consistent with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia,” the UK says.
Canadian passport holders do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to six months in the UK, but a business visa or work permit or a student visa is required.
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Canada’s travel advice for the United Kingdom states that Canadians must apply for the ETA before traveling to or through the United Kingdom
Applications for the ETA opened in November 2024 for visitors from dozens of countries, including Canada.
The program will further expand to more nationalities in March.
The application process takes about three days, but can take longer, the British government says.
The permit is valid for two years or until a person’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
The UK scheme is similar to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), its launch has been delayed.
When ETIAS launches, Canadian passport holders and other visa-exempt citizens will travel to one of these 30 European countries for a maximum of 90 days will have to apply for a permit.
& copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
